The campaign
Zhuge Liang’s Northern Expeditions
诸葛亮北伐
Between 228 and 234 Zhuge Liang led Shu-Han armies north against Wei in several campaigns, working within the limits of the state’s manpower and supplies. Before the first he sent Liu Shan the memorial later known as the Former Chu Shi Biao. The opening campaign of 228 failed when Ma Su, a trusted subordinate, was defeated at Jieting; Zhuge Liang withdrew, imposed severe discipline on Ma Su, and accepted responsibility for the failure. At Jigu, Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi, outnumbered, withdrew in order and avoided a rout. Facing Zhuge Liang across the later campaigns, Sima Yi often avoided a decisive battle and waited for conditions to favor Wei.
See the realm in 229 on the historical atlasThe people
Who fought it
Novel vs history
How the novel retells it
Romance of the Three Kingdoms changes parts of this story. These fact-checks show what the records say instead.
Sources
Historical sources
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书五·诸葛亮传
Before the first northern campaign, Zhuge Liang sent the memorial later known as the Former Chu Shi Biao to Liu Shan.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书五·诸葛亮传
Zhuge Liang led several northern campaigns against Wei while managing the limits of Shu Han’s manpower and supplies.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书五·诸葛亮传
The loss at Jieting forced Zhuge Liang to withdraw; he punished Ma Su and accepted responsibility for the campaign’s failure.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书五·诸葛亮传
Ma Su was a trusted subordinate whose defeat at Jieting led Zhuge Liang to impose severe discipline.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Outnumbered at Jigu during Zhuge Liang’s first northern campaign, Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi withdrew in order and avoided a rout.
- Chronicle晋书 · 帝纪第一·宣帝纪
During Zhuge Liang’s northern campaigns, Sima Yi often avoided a decisive battle and waited for conditions to favor Wei.
- Chronicle晋书 · 帝纪第一·宣帝纪
Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang faced one another during the campaigns around Wuzhang Plains; their rivalry is documented in later histories.